Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-02

PARTICULARS ABOUT THE ANACOSTTA RIvHR-THR
REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROPOSED BRIpGE-A SKEW
BRIDGE 10 BE BUILT, :, 235 FEET LONG, INCLUDING
APPRoACHRs AND 32 FEET WIDE.
Col. P. c. Hains has submitted his nrst annual
report to the Chief of Engineers on the Eastern
Branch bridge at the foot Of Pennsylvania avenue,
the construction OF which was authorized by the
act approved February %, appropriating 900,
and subsequently placed under his charge. He
states that the Eastern Branch, or Anacostia
River, is $50 feet wide at the site Of the bridge
the distance being measured at right angles to the
general direction Of the stream. The main chan
mel is 40 feet from the washington shore, is 25O
feet wide, between the curves OF feet depth, and
has maximum depth OF 17.S at mean low
tide Between the main channel and the left,
or eastern bank of the river there Is q wide flat
upon which the depth varies from to feet. The
couple track line OF the Baltimore and Potomac
railroad passes along the Washington shore. the
about IA feet above low tide Penasyiyan,a ave- ave.
nue. terminates in c1rcle 700 feet in diameter at
its Intersection with 18th street, Kentucky ave-
this circle being 35H feet above low tide. Surveys
OF four lines were made, and after careful ccnsid-
Grafton the line OF
PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE EXTENDED
was recommended for adoption, as 1t seemed to
meet more fully than any other the demands Of
public travel and, further afforded the most favor
able ground for the eastern approach. bridge
built on this line Will be
SKEW BRIDGE
and its total length, including approaches will be
2 235 feet. The grade OF the bridge is determined
by the crossing OF the B. and p. r. r. and the
clear heading and depth of truss required over the
river The grade OF the railroad being IA feet and
that Of Pennsylvania avenue 35k feet. an over
required is Is feet, and above this height of 3
feet Is needed for the floor system. This gives
grade OF 35 feet for the roadway Of the bridge.
about II feet is deemed necessary. 1t was recon-
mended that the grade be fixed at 35
feet FEE It the bridge proper to be level throughout.
On the embankment forming the eastern approach
the grade will be at the rate Of feet in 100 feet
The people interested desired wide bridge
Pennsylvania avenue is l6O feet wide and the
future development OF the eastern side OF the river
will probably induce considerable travel. AS the
funds were insun1cient for wide bridge it was
recommended that The width be fixed at not less
than 32 feet. There is no navigation to be pro-
vded for at this locality, other than the passage
OF sand scows for which the clear head room OF IL
1eeC Will Oe ample. No provision was therefore
made for a draw. In the construction OF the
bridge, however, the report says it will be neces-
CLEAR wjkn WAY OF
ample width, SO as not 10 Obstruct the tidal flow
Of the Eastern Branch fhe river is in fact tidal
estuary and 1t is important that large volume OF
tide water should be allowed to pass in and out ON
every tide, In order to matnta1a the navigable
channel below the navy-y ard and also to carry on
the sewage from the eastern section OF the city.
The most suitable bridge was considered TO be
deck bride OF iron truSSeS built on stone piers but
as such bridge 81 feet wide would cost SI73 $50,
and similar bridge "a feet wide Sl5S, ,0OO
both amounts in excess Of the appro-
priation, an estimate was made in a modi-
tied plan, which provided for bridge spans
only over the channel, the remainder Of
the river being crossed on iron treStles, the ma
sonry abutments being omitted, and the embank-
ment OF the eastern approach retained. The esti-
mate for such a bridge was $1O3, 800 Such a
structure, while not deemed altogether desirable
or satisfactory, would, it was believed subserve
useful purpose. Col Hams then proceeds to re-
late in detail how the matter was referred to re-
port OF engineer O1CerS, who reported In favor OF
bridge located on the proposed line in which the
material OF the frame and its supports shall be OF
iron and stone, the clear width OF structure not
less than 32 feet, and height OF roadway above
low water IS feet. In accordance with these rec
been prepared and advertisement for proposals
issued. or the $l10,O00 Appropriated there has
been expended $4O195, and the outstanding la
the amount available for completing the structure.